Brake beam



Patented July` 5, 1927.

UNITED STATESY 1,634,395:- PATENroFFicE.

CHARLES r'. HUNTooN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRAKE BEAM.

Application mea october 9, 1924. semaine. 742,5851

The main objects of this invention are j to provide an improved form' of brake beam which will eliminate racking or bending of the compression'and tension 'members at .o points adjacent the brake heads to provide an improved formof brake head;v and to provide improved means for fastening'the brake heads t the compression and tension members Lwhereby brake heads of one standard in size and form may be used ateitherendof the beam and may be combine-d with compressionA and tension members of various sizes for constructing beamsof different capacities. Y j

' Anillustrative vembodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,w'hereini Figure lis a fragmentary plan'of a brake beam'showing partv in lsection for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Lthe same, taken from the left of Fig. 1, lpart of the brake head hanger and tension strap beingY broken away, and the braking position of the head being shownin dotted outline.

F ig. 3 is a ldetail in perspective of one of the liller blocks. 1

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of the same.

Fig. 5 is a s ection of the same taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse. section of the brake head taken on the line 6:-6 of Fig. 2. A j

Thecommonl form of brake beam is of truss-shaped construction, and comprises tension and compression members secured together adjacent their ends and centrally separated by a strut which divides the polygonal structure into two triangular portions for the purpose of rigidity. The brake heads which carry the brake shoes are sup-k ported at the ends of the beam, and are usu-l ally apertured so as to embrace the compression and tension members. A brake beam of this general type is shown in my` copending application, Serial No. 742,584, filed October 9, 1924.

In the usual forms of brake beams hereto-` fore in use, the compression and tension members have been connected together at points inwardly of the extremities thereof so as to provide bearing parts projecting be,

at substantially right angles to the compression member, has frequently caused a bending ofthe beam atV or near the vicinityof the inner-edgev of the brakehead and thrown the latter out of line. Such bending ofthe beam is eliminated in a brake beam embodying the present invention, wherein the parts of the beam are so arranged that the neutral axes ofthe compression and tension members and the central axis or medial yertical plane 0l of the brake head intersect at a common point and the bend in the tensionmember where its end portions become'parallel with the compression member occurs substantially at this same point.

- In the specific construction herein shown, the brake beam comprises theusual channel-shaped compression member 1 andten-` sion member 'or strap 2, separatedv at their medial part-s by a centralv strut 3, and con# nected at'their ends by rivets14 and the brake heads 5,y which carry the usual brake shoes, not shown. Only one end of the beam is herein shown,-but it is to'be understood that both ends are identical. The medial 30 vertical planes of the'brake heads 5, indicated by dotte'd line 6, extend through the points of intersection of the neutral axes of the compression and tension members,` which are illustrated by dottedlines 7 and 8 re- *5 spectively, the common point of intersection being indicated at 9 in Fig. 1.V In a member of uniform cross section, the neutral axis Vis located at the center of gravity of the section. The expression medial vertical plane is intende-d to mean a plane parallel with and midway between the two side faces of the brake head.

- The brake heads 5V are of one standard size and shape, and are each provided with a transverse opening 10 which is large enough to receive compression and tension members` of maximum size. Formed on the brake head 5 and projecting into the openinglO, is a Ycentrally located boss 11, which 10G' engages a recessy 12 formed in a filler block 13, which is arranged in the opening 10 of the head 5 between the head and the tension member 2.` The heads 5 and filler blocks 13 are alsoy centrally apertured, as shown at 14 and 15 respectively, to receive the rivets 4. The inner ends of the illerbloclrs 13 lare bevelled, as shown at 16, to form inclined bearing surfaces for engaging the tension member 2. The brake heads 5 need not be iio made right andleft but may be adapted to the respective ends of the beam by merelyv reversing;l the positions ot the filler blocks.

The improved brake beam herein shown and ldescribed, etl'eets a considerable saving in the materials and patterns over prior brake beams, in that only one size oit b 'alie head is required to be kept in stock for building beam et' various capacities, the change being' made in the iiller bleek alone.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted Without departingT from the spirit of this invention as defined by the 'following elain'is:

I claim:

l. A brake beam comprising` tension and compression members directly connected together at. their ends, a brake head at the end oi' the beam having; an opening' into which said members extend, a `[iller bleek arranged at one side oit said members and, inserted in said opening' between said members and the head, and means for locking said liller block and brake head to said members.

Q. A brake beam comprising tension and compression members, a central strut between said members, a pair ot brake heads ot substantiall;7 identical construction loeated at the ends of the beam and having openings into which said members extend, liller bloelis arranged in said openings between said tension members and heads, the inner ends ot said blocks being' inclined to 't'orm bearing` surfaces engaging said tension member, each oi said filler blocks being,I re versible in its head whereby said brake heads are interchangeable ior use at either end ot' the beam, and means tor securing said fillery blocks and brake heads to said members.

in. A brake beam eomlirising tension and compression members, a brake head at the end of the beam haring an opening,r .into which said members extend, a .[iller block arranged in said opening between said tension member and head, croaeting.,r shoulders on the opposed tac/es ot said iillei' block and` head tor locking said block against displaeement longitudinall)7 ot said head, and means ttor locking` said filler block and brake head to said members.

A brake beam comprising tension and compression members, a brake head at the end of the beam having an opening` into which said members extend, a filler block arranged in said opening between said tension member and head, and a rivet arrangedl to clamp said filler block and brake bead to said members, said rivet being located at the medial Vertical plane of said brake head.

Signed at Upland Calif, this 27th day oit Sept.V 1924.

CHARLES F. HUNTOON. 

